Experience of the United States of America in Identifying and Tracing Money, Valuables and other Property Obtained as a Result of Committing Criminal Offenses

Abstract

Abstract. The article examines the peculiarities of the functioning of the system for identifying and tracing assets obtained through criminal means in the United States of America. The multi-level approach of the American system for combating money laundering, which combines legislative, regulatory and law enforcement mechanisms, is analyzed. The historical development of the legislative framework is reviewed and the features of regulatory acts and modern legislative initiatives to combat money laundering are highlighted. The stages of financial investigations and methods of tracking the movement of funds are described. The procedures for detecting illegal assets are described in detail: from automatic monitoring of suspicious transactions by financial institutions to analytical processing of FinCEN data and financial investigations by law enforcement agencies. The mechanisms of interaction between financial institutions and regulatory authorities in the process of monitoring suspicious transactions are disclosed. The role of FinCEN as a central analytical center for processing financial information is examined. The US law enforcement agencies that identify and track assets obtained through criminal means are highlighted, and their competence in this system is briefly described. Particular attention is paid to the legal framework and procedures for asset forfeiture. The practice of US international cooperation in the field of asset recovery through MLAT mechanisms and specialized programs is analyzed. Innovative technological approaches were explored, including the use of artificial intelligence, big data analysis, and specialized tools to increase the efficiency of detecting illicit assets, as well as blockchain analytics to track cryptocurrency transactions. It is shown that the American system is characterized by high efficiency due to an integrated approach, a powerful technological base, and active international cooperation.

Keywords: illicit assets; money laundering; financial investigations; FinCEN; law enforcement; bank secrecy; suspicious transactions; cryptocurrencies; blockchain analytics; asset forfeiture; artificial intelligence; international legal cooperation.